Then, write a book about this adventure.
Never never never so bad! The trip was Rome - Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) - Bali (Indonesia) - Dili (Timor Leste) in Kuala Lumpur no problem, I got off the plane and boarded another. in Bali I had to spend a night and then are passed through immigration. My passport was not even a completely blank page, and because their visa is a sticker the size of a page, I was stopped and left there waiting for an hour, with my passport in their hands, who knows where.
Of course I had already paid the visa, $ 10.
I state that the airport is a flashing message that says, in case of failure by the immigration authorities, to address the officer on duty. Since the noise was coming, and I knew it, I er or resolved to seek his inntervento, just someone had made some proposals inndecente. Eventually, the officer who had my passport gave me aid, putting the sticking already stamped on a page, the modest sum, not sales, of $ 100.
I asked talk to the officer on duty.
was him!
So I called the embassy but it was Sunday, then closed.
to re-embark on the next day to check in the Lord of the airline will not accept me saying that there is no place to put the passport visa Timor Leste, and then I sent back at the expense of Company aereia.
So I did travel.
[****]
What to do? Call our office in Manila, so I tell them.
begins a round of phone calls with the plane that had already begun to take on, in Manila, the Ministry of Public Works in Timor Leste, but just wanted to check in to know who was the officer of the immigration of Timor Leste that he would into the land, it was useless to appoint embassies, ministries or UN.
Eventually I took the responsibility of the return flight, in the case had been dismissed, and as the plane doors closed, I entered.
Finished? Seee.
The flight was a typical flight IATA, seat belts are missing, you sit down anywhere, the seats are sometimes broken. A short bus. Indeed the fact that this time they did demonstrations of security, emergency procedures, usually do not do them either.
I wonder if there really are life jackets under the seats.
However Meas flight with no problems. The landing: The plane touches the ground with a great vertical speed. It gives a blow that shakes the entire fuselage, passengers are tossed out in first, then back, and the plane bounces in the air.
I said: "This time it's that good!"
rider tries it again, it lowers and after a few bumps fearful touches the ground. Pfiu. This too is gone.
I get off the plane and arrival at the immigration desk, in a sort of telephone booth near the track, where people are already beginning to line up.
[****]
When is my turn, in 10 seconds, the officer gives me back my passport and tells me I'm rejected because there is no space to put the stamp.
not want to listen to reason.
[****] attaches to the phone calling everyone he knew, and immigration services in the meantime become 3.
[****] search to explain to them the importance sum of my work for the welfare of all Timorese nation, [****]
come 2 other employees of immigration, and we are 5.
Obviously we're outdoors, in the grass. One full of good will goes to get the stamp to show me that it is not evil, just does not fit and can not cover another stamp. Arriva chief immigration officer said that without more ado that is not a problem them, my passport is not usable so I have to go back to Bali on the same plane which had just fallen.
They walk menacingly toward my suitcases. The airline warned of my return to Indonesia, sends a flight attendant to get me because the plane has already turned the engines and de you leave.
Then you say that one is gastritis.
Skip the pleasantries, the presentations and talk to fact, arrived at the hotel, Hotel Sakura Tower. A 3-storey building called the tower. I think it is the highest in the capital.
Oh, the places they now begin to know a lot, and all more or less discomfort. But a trip here, I would not recommend even to an enemy.
The room, at a price of € 1000 per month for long stays, has no windows, no bathroom, nor in the room!
[****]
The evening of my arrival had to appoint a new prime minister, and as such uses here, right before his appointment, there were clashes in the streets made of stone-throwing and fires between the factions of the former prime minister and that the likely new. Then the appointment was made, and likely has become certain.
The clashes have become very harsh, there are villages where the homes burned to reach 500 (local custom). the second day, we went somewhere in the car, and some guys with rocks in hand made a sign to what guid ava, who stopped and gave them $ 5, so he can spend quiet without damage to the machine. They greeted and we left quietly.
[****]
Vehicles which are abundant here are those of the UN and military trucks. They spend the whole callara because they are the most targeted by stone-throwing. at night even they do not circulate.
Ah, this 15th day of August, the music changes. I get a secretary who disturbs me . Demi Mendez, more or less. But is 20 years old.
give me a car that is a monster. The wheels have a diameter of five feet. A genuine racing car. brand new.
phone and find a place that costs 30 cents per minute.
[****]
Maybe there will be internet.
[****]
August 23. All in all things marching.
[****]
A pass at a time but we get to 27 on Monday, where there is delivery.
Today Internet attacks. That luxury right now I'm about to end.
[****]
Then, from Monday 27 to Monday September 3 will be waiting for comments on the project, and if not forthcoming, as I expect, is the third delivery and then we go.
Then the return trip will be another odyssey, because the airport in Indonesia expected to force a change to immigration and failing to pages, this time I just finished, the problem will be fun.
I asked the embassy closest to me (in Jakarta, Indonesia in two time zones difference, think a bit ') to let me have a passport to travel without a passport, and between sending the photos and sending a pass by courier, in the end I spent $ 100 that I would ask at the border to do me a favor.
Meanwhile, the pass does not arrive.
I spoke with the embassy right now and tell me they sent the pass three days ago, so I am going to receive it. There must have been some stellar alignment that has made it begin to turn right.
Here ends the first part.
INTERRUPTION
=========================================== ================================================== ==========
Part Two
This country is formidable
Since Indonesia is no longer here and this has become a country independent
, the Timorese police have not found, then the ' UN has
them available to foreign police.
The beauty is that each has its national currency, then the streets are small groups
Australian police (blue shirt, blue pants and many
badge), along with Filipinos (green uniform), Korean (black or white)
Singaporean (camouflage) Uganda (dark green) Indians, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis
(green), New Zealand (boh) Portuguese (dark blue), Romanian and so on. etc..
until you add up the hefty sum of 37 different states that make up the
Police of Timor-Leste. And these
stop the machines and make the fines under the laws Timorese
to whom they were acquainted with the rapid learning courses.
roaming the streets of big cars with gigantic, most of which has
networks to protect the windows from the stones, I think that rain
from interplanetary space.
slow down if they see a crowd, you need to stop and after a while '
go away. If you take away someone is never more than a few hours. Then
is released.
[****]
The office has started to work. Internet works, I put in 13
network computer, 4 printers. Today we delivered the project Draft. Between
week there will be the final and also have my own plane. From
arrives and departs on a plane to Bali (Indonesia) 6 times a week and a
to Darwin (Australia) I also think this 6 times a week
. Nothing else. It is not that exactly Heathrow.
The sea is the most beautiful I've ever seen. But there are some 'of jellyfish, tentacles
waiting for me to open.
I was planning to spend the last week doing a little 'holiday,
since the project was finished. Instead,
[****]
what we delivered today is heavily revised, since it was
finished in a hurry this morning.
Another oddity is the habit of burning houses.
works like this: two people argue, perhaps due to political,
one of two organizations that the burning is to go to the home of that other
in 40 or 50 (on a couple of trucks) to lift people
inside and set fire to the house. Who is in generally good
out in order (because I guess it's better not to argue with 50 people).
an Englishman here, who had a rented house, you are presented
burners, who knocked on the window, they told him to leave because
had to burn the house. He said he was cooking and
had not done anything wrong. They replied that there's
had with the owner, not to him. He brought his
pans out and continued to cook in the garden, sitting
on the cases, while the house burned.
strange country.
Tonight I was woken by a clatter crazy, seemed to be
Terms at 8 am. Now, since the railroad here in Dili
not there, I was facing. He felt beat metal on metal, as
mad. It came from all directions. I tried to feel better
and I realized that was not an echo, actually came from many places
.
As if the whole city was given an appointment to make noise.
Some nearby you could feel good. Under my window
people used a crowbar to beat up a street sign.
I said "will be the usual political protest" and I I went to sleep.
A couple of hours later they stopped.
Then they got up the helicopters, which is the sign of some disorder.
this morning I asked the driver what it was and he told me that he
beat at home. He explained that it is local custom
for the moon. I did not understand if it's the full moon or new moon, but in short
something related to lunar cycles.
So women, he argues.
The mine is reached. If I did not retire at Fiumicino
'll put me in a frame.
Now that we see in Indonesia will they think of other devilry
to extort more money.
One by one when I tell my adventure in Bali, I am getting
saying that all you have to give money to move. The group of Filipinos
(four) have a group rate (like $ 30 for one).
[****]
Today is Wednesday 29 aarrivati \u200b\u200bcomments on the preliminary draft.
[****]
And a couple of changes. Tomorrow is a holiday (for them
the ministry) and then on Friday (last day before my departure
next Monday I'm going to try to reduce them to milder
advice, otherwise I start fading. Fades And if you open a
another problem. Where to put the extension of visas good
Timorese authorities? I think that as soon as they see my passport
the tear. So, to do some 'cleaning.
[****]
Here in the meantime the work process'.
[****]
Oh I forgot there is also the Mendes, but he can only laugh. He does not speak Portuguese
even, I say this for the benefit of all those (many would say
, confirming the simplicity of the male brain) that have been launched in
suggestions of more or less explicit approach.
And then that the 17 canvas. He has other things to do, I guess.
One aspect I never stressed here is that since the evening
can not get out, go on the garden where other desperate
foreigners like me do the same. And personal relationships are woven
interesting, between those who get drunk in the presence of children, who carries
the computer and work, who brings music, those who smoke. Beautiful and varied
humanity, nothing to say.
Among my most frequent contacts are:
2 Japanese girls who work at their embassy, \u200b\u200b
[****] , singapore
a policeman who works with the secret services here
a Korean police officer who instructs the local police.
Then there is Ian or Yan, do not know. Ian is really the best. Polish
he also works for the United Nations, about 35 years. is joining us down in
garden only when it is drunk already lost. Arrives, greets everyone starts drinking
to evaporate that glimmer of consciousness that has
allowed to walk up the garden, and then starts straparlare,
puts weeds telling secret things, harassing girls,
in the presence of their husbands, boyfriends and so on.
always ends up that someone puts their hands on him or me him back to his quarters.
The next morning, fresh as a flower, you meet him for breakfast and
him as if nothing had happened.
Well yes, good experience.
End of Part
INTERRUPTION
=========================================== ================================================== ==========
Third Party
This is the short epilogue adventure Timorese.
There is one aspect here that I have not yet dealt. Although Timor-Leste is an independent state, the official currency is U.S. dollars. But the sub (cents) are called centavos and are local. In practice, an American charged with a note and receive a rest that is a party in dollars and partly in coins, not be spent elsewhere. In addition to the $ 1 tickets are "strange" to the touch as in transparency, but they are used safely by all. The Americans say that when they go in america tickets from $ 1 to Timor must leave them, because otherwise stop them.
[****]
back to me, in essence, after delivery of the preliminary draft, everything was quiet because it would not have arrived any comment, [****].
Yes, in fact, the comments to the project made them do another.
It arrived two days later, with two pages full of dense requests changes and corrections.
Panico. I have 5 days from the plane for home. What to do? Mumble mumble, make me a bit 'who want to see.
Ah, but here they are wrong, this error is not an error, this request is contrary to the rules and so on.
then travel to the ministry to make a good meeting [****]
I spent the last few days to adjust the calculations and some drawings, and soon it was all completed her going.
But the beauty is the return journey.
Monday morning I run to the ministry to deliver a masterpiece, and after running the airport.
Arrival, immigration officers at passport control they remembered me and asked me how I was going to go to Bali, because now the passport was really full. I explained that I now had a trump card, my new pass and they made me go quietly.
I go to boarding and arrival on the aircraft carrying more desperate to Bali to Dili. They fall, and I stand near the exits because it's time to mount up and go.
But they call and the time passes. Departure time is already exceeded by a good half hour, but they do not even have to call a mild intention.
hour late. I have a connection to be taken at Bali, Kuala-Lumpur. I'm not in a hurry, but if the flight is canceled, I skip all the coincidences. I can not arrive late. Esco outdoors and I approach the plane, and only one throughout the airport. There was all people who fumbled. I ask that a plan to do and a guard tells me that now they do it from someone fix it and Bali in Indonesia because spare parts have them.
"Yes, but after that, I think?"
And in the meantime I try to watch that they are doing around the plane, and I see that many people are busy to carry stuff. Boh.
Then I explain that the Portuguese do not fix anything because it is more than a year. The engine failed to start because it lacks the automatic ignition and must turn them by hand, it shows me a guy who entered the room engine with a ladder and you only see her legs. There are wires coming from the airport and enter the same opening in which there is the man. Boh. What a God send us good.
long after you hear a roar of hell and a reactor begins to operate. They repeat the same another reactor and keeping them under a nice lead up the stairs and the whole fury of us climb on the plane.
And we're off. On the flight
nothing to say even the landing was normal. And arrival in Bali. Waiting for this moment for a month. Also for the transits I have to go to immigration. I have to basically come and go at the airport.
Yeah I know I have my pass, but who will say, is a paper written in Italian, except coincisissima sensum to a translation in English. It will be worthwhile? In diplomatic terms it is perfectly equivalent to a passport, but police say [****] , on this?
Then I have the flicker.
"I need to make me jump quancuno immigration procedures, recovery comes out of my suitcase, and make checkin for me to fly to Kuala Lumpur" Having said that, I ask those of Merpati to be someone to help me; I am told to wait there. I wait and after half an hour immigration queues are empty, and the police begin to look at me thinking, I think "but this does not go here because of immigration and he is still watching us?" I thought: "Now they come and ask me to explain, and I'm in trouble." I continue to call those of Merpati, on the phone and finally get an official, that wonder of wonders was the same as a month before I wanted to get on the plane because it was said that Dili would reject me. Obviously recognized me immediately and said, more or less: "Mo 'what else thou hast?" I explained the problem, I was going through the internal passages to the gate where you expect to get in the plane and told me that he went to retrieve my luggage and re-embarked, making a new check-in. I gave him my passport and my ticket and I sat anxiously waiting, fearing that he be taken ill and taken to the hospital with my stuff. But after 20 minutes he returned with my boarding pass ready and gave me back nice everything. I asked seven or eight times if he was sure he had boarded my suitcase, I paid ($ 10) and I left.
Arrival in Kuala Lumpur, leaving for Rome, Fiumicino and also find the suitcase (I would not have bet a cent). All
perfectly fine.
And this concludes my adventure Timorese.
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